1897.] ON THE MALAGASY GENUS BRACHYUROMyS. 695 



form T. sipyhis, clearly proving this to be a well-marked geo- 

 graphical race distinct from T. evenina. 



An example of what seems to be an intermediate phase of 

 T. vesta, differing from the wet-season form of T, mutans in its 

 small diseocellular black spot, smaller discal salmoii-buff spots, 

 larger marginal spots, and strongly defined brown bands on the 

 under surface of the secondaries. 



A form which I take to be a dry-season phase of T. ansorgei, 

 already referred to in footnote. 



Specimens of Herpcenia melanarcje showing considerable varia- 

 tion in size, proving that H. iterata {which differs constantly in the 

 red coloration of the markings below) is a nearly allied but distinct 

 geographical race. 



Lastly, examples of Papilio erivius with unusually narrow blue 

 banding on the upper surface of the primaries. 



4. On the Malagasy Rodent Genus Brachyuromys ; and on 

 the Mutual Relations of some Groups of the Muridce 

 [Heftperomyince, Microtines, Murince, and " Spalacidee ") 

 with each other and with the Malagasy Nesomyintp. 

 By Dr. C. I. Forsyth Major, C.M.Z.S. 



[EeceiTed June 1, 1897.] 

 (Plates XXXVII.-XL.) 



It has been stated not long ago (1893), in a valuable Manual, that 

 the Eodents are amongst the few exceptions to the rule, according 

 to which the Malagasy Mammals belong to peculiar specifically 

 Malagasy genera \ This statement, made originally by Siitimeyer 

 in 1867 ', was true at that date. In the intervening 28 years 

 five genera, containing six species, of Malagasy Eodents have 

 been brought to notice ; several of them, however, were so scantily 

 characterized as to explain the undue neglect to which they have 

 been subjected. 



The genus Brachyuromys was characterized by me last year^, 

 upon specimens collected in Madagascar, the species B. ramiro- 

 Jiitra, of which a short description was given, being taken as type. 

 In the same place it was pointed out that Bartlett's " Nesomys 

 hetsileoensis"^ is a second species of Brachyuromys. 



At this Society's Meeting of Dec. 1, 1896% some considerations 

 on the Malagasy Eodents as a whole were presented ; the great 

 majority of them I considered to " belong to the so-called Cricetine 



^ K. A. Zittel, ' Handbuch d. PalJiontologie. IV. Vertebrata (Mammalia) ' 

 1891 -93, p. 767. 



^ L. Ruliineyer, ' TJebei- die Herkunft unserer Thierwelt. Eine zoogeo- 

 grapbische Skizze.' Basel & Genf, 1867, p. 14. 



3 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, vol. xviii. Oct. 189f5, p. 322. 



* P. Z. S. 1879, p. 770. 



' P. Z. S. 1896, pp. 978-980. 



